36: pecked by a bird

Early in the morning, Su Ze picked out one of several bronze-colored demon beast eggs in front of him and dropped it into boiling water.

Perhaps that previous ten-draw, which landed both Gold-rank and diamond rank demon beast eggs simultaneously, had exhausted all of Su Ze's recent luck.

After using up all the gacha pulls he had accumulated over the past few days, he hadn't seen a single Silver grade egg, let alone a Gold-rank one; he had only harvested a few bronze demon beast eggs.

Su Ze thought for a moment, then took out another demon beast egg and put it into the pot.

If anyone else saw this scene, they would likely be so heartbroken they'd immediately find it hard to breathe.

But for Su Ze, it didn't matter, because demon beast eggs were the thing he lacked the least.

After all, he was like a hardworking hen, laying an egg every day.

Once both beast taming eggs were boiled, Su Ze fished them out and headed out the door.

Because he lived in the staff housing of Azure Dragon Beast Taming University, which was very close to the school, there was no need for him to live in the dorms.

Xu Yao enjoyed the same treatment.

As soon as Su Ze stepped out, he saw her waiting for him at the corner of the stairs.

“So slow, I’ve been waiting for quite a while,” Xu Yao said with a slight pout.

Su Ze replied, “Have you eaten? I boiled an egg for you, it took a bit of time.”

“I've eaten, but it's just an egg, eating another isn't a problem. It's just that I'm past the age where I'm still growing, is eating eggs still useful...?”

Xu Yao looked at the massive, boiled-white beast taming egg Su Ze pulled out, and for a moment, the words got stuck in her throat.

Although Su Ze boiling a demon beast egg to heal his injuries last time had left a deep impression on her, she never imagined this thing could be used for breakfast!

This was simply too extravagant!

Su Ze didn't say anything. After handing the egg to Xu Yao, he pulled out another one, cracked it against the stair railing, and began peeling the shell.

He didn't forget to remind Xu Yao, “What are you standing there for? Eat up! This is good stuff; it’ll keep you energized all day and let you increase your Spiritual Power as fast as meditation without actually having to meditate!”

Looking at the two boiled beast taming eggs in their hands, for some reason, Xu Yao felt a bit numb.

Seeing her expression, Su Ze said somewhat proudly, “Too bad I'm out of stock right now. Some other day, we'll try a Gold-rank demon beast egg together and see what it tastes like.”

Coming from anyone else, this would have been a completely unbelievable statement, but Xu Yao nodded inexplicably.

A demon beast egg the size of a human head was more than Xu Yao could finish since she'd already had breakfast, and even a hungry Su Ze couldn't finish one in a single sitting.

So Su Ze summoned Feng Qingyi from the beast taming space, gave her the peeled egg in his hand, and shared the other beast taming egg with Xu Yao.

Feng Qingyi gave Su Ze a sidelong glance but didn't refuse, reaching out to take the demon beast egg.

A Beast Tamer's beast taming space is filled with exceptionally abundant spiritual energy, which is one of the reasons why demon beasts level up faster after signing a contract than wild ones.

Demon beasts can survive on spiritual energy alone within the beast taming space, and Feng Qingyi generally looked down on ordinary food.

But demon beast eggs were different; even for a diamond rank like her, they were rare delicacies.

The abundant pure energy they contained was especially nourishing for newborn demon beasts. Feng Qingyi hadn't expected this inexplicably cheap master to be able to produce so many in a row.

Although she was forced into the contract by the system, she couldn't detect the system's existence because she was in a subordinate position.

She could only vaguely feel that the contract binding her had a very powerful binding force.

Watching Feng Qingyi's satisfied expression from the side, Su Ze impulsively reached out to pat her head.

After all, in his impression, pets like cats and dogs could have their favorability increased through head pats. Birds... shouldn't be an exception, right?

But before Su Ze's hand could descend, just as it brushed past a strand of hair with a feathery texture...

Feng Qingyi's expression changed abruptly, and she dodged Su Ze's 'evil claws'.

She then transformed into her Phoenix Bird form, gave Su Ze a sharp peck, hooked the demon beast egg with her talons, and flew back into the beast taming space.

Seeing this, Xu Yao hurried over.

Su Ze's right hand was already red, with a small puncture wound from the peck bleeding.

“Brother Su Ze, what just happened? Why did your beast... suddenly attack you? Is there any danger?” Xu Yao asked worriedly.

As someone close to Su Ze, she knew there was a significant level gap between Su Ze and the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird.

This kind of situation was actually very dangerous. Although the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird had only pecked Su Ze's hand just now, there was no guarantee it wasn't a precursor to losing control.

“It's fine, she's just throwing a little tantrum. She can't flip the heavens yet,” Su Ze said as he had the Void Spirit Turtle, which had been kicked out of the beast taming space, use Minor Heal to treat his wound.

He knew that because of the system, it was impossible for the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird to lose control, but her lack of obedience was quite a headache.

After all, if she was like this, Su Ze couldn't comfortably rely on her power during battle.

“How can I get on good terms with her?” Su Ze felt a bit troubled.

Currently, it seemed Feng Qingyi only showed interest in demon beast eggs. Could it be he had to feed her all the remaining eggs?

Su Ze felt that wasn't right, and not just because he was reluctant to part with them.

He also felt that if Feng Qingyi made it a habit, then with him laying only one egg a day, it might truly not be enough to feed her.

Su Ze still hadn't thought of a good solution by the time they reached the school gate.

“Brother Su Ze, I'm going to find my father now. See you after school!”

The two parted at the school gate and headed toward their respective mentors.

In fact, with the exception of Su Ze, the destination for all freshmen was the administration building; he was the only one walking toward the breeding sheds.

Not long after smelling that familiar pungent odor, Su Ze saw Lin Xi lying leisurely on a rocking chair.

He took a swig of wine and said, “Kid, you've finally arrived. Go feed those Green Cranes over there first. They've been squawking since early morning, giving me a headache.”

Su Ze had learned his lesson this time. To avoid his clothes being marinated in the smell of the breeding sheds, he first went to the lounge to change into some old clothes he had brought along, then picked up the iron bucket filled with grain.

Heighed the bucket in his hand and said, “If you had just fed them, wouldn't they stop bothering you?”

Lin Xi gave a proud smile. “Haha, if I did that, wouldn't you have nothing to do? I've figured it out now—I can get double the pay just by lying here. I should have agreed to such a comfortable arrangement long ago.”

Hearing this, Su Ze glanced back at him, feeling a bit shaken.

Then he quickly turned his head away, constantly trying to convince himself in his mind: “He's a hidden master, yes, he must be...”